Card and Gift Packaging with Laminate Strip

ABSTRACT

Packaging comprising: (a) a top portion; and (b) a bottom portion connected to and separable from the top portion by a fold region; wherein the fold region include scoring, perforation, or both to facilitate separation of the top portion and the bottom portion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION DATA

The present application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Ser. No. 62/212,461 filed on Jun. 18, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present teachings generally relate to prepaid card packaging, and more particularly, to snap card packaging.

BACKGROUND

Various industries utilize monetary transaction cards, such as prepaid cards, gift cards, or other monetized cards. These transaction cards are frequently attached to packaging, such as a card carrier, which enables a retailer to display the transaction cards in an ordered manner. The carriers may often include an opening to hang the transaction cards attached to the carriers on a display rack for customers to select for purchase. The transactions cards may often be attached along a peripheral edge of the carrier to allow for easy separation between the carrier and the transaction card.

To facilitate easy separation between the carrier and the transaction card, the packaging may often be configured as a snap apart design. The snap apart design may have the transaction card connected to the carrier along a perforated and/or scored line, thereby allowing a customer to easily bend the transaction card and the carrier relative to each other until the transaction card and the carrier separate (i.e., snap apart).

To create such a snap apart design, the material used for the packaging may often be a thicker or more rigid plastic material, such as polyvinyl chloride or other similar plastics. Unfortunately, these conventional snap card materials are not easily disposable, may not be recyclable, or both. As a result, due to the short periods of time in which the packaging and/or the transaction card are used, there may be a high level of waste in a non-environmentally friendly manner.

To improve on the wasteful disposition of snap cards, attempts have been made to utilize more environmentally friendly materials, such as a recyclable and/or biodegradable paperboard material. While using such biodegradable materials may improve waste, the packaging may often be too pliable or flexible, resulting in a customer not being able to properly “snap” the packaging and separate the transaction card from the carrier.

Thus, there remains a need for a further improved transaction card packaging that decreases overall waste. What is needed is packaging that utilizes biodegradable and/or recyclable materials, yet still allows for the packaging to be snapped apart. Therefore, there also remains a need for biodegradable and/or recyclable material that provides enough structural rigidity for snapping apart the transaction card and the carrier. Thus, what is needed is packaging have a localized stiffener to improve snapping abilities of the packaging.

SUMMARY

The present teachings meet one or more of the present needs by providing packaging comprising: (a) a top portion; and (b) a bottom portion connected to and separable from the top portion by a fold region; wherein the fold region include scoring, perforation, or both to facilitate separation of the top portion and the bottom portion.

The bottom portion of the packaging may be a prepaid or loadable transaction card. Additionally, the packaging may be biodegradable, recyclable, or both. For example, the packaging may be made from a paperboard material. Moreover, the packaging may be a snap-type packaging.

The fold region of the packaging may include an upper score line and a lower score line offset from the upper score line. The upper score line may extend partially through a thickness of the packaging from a top surface and the lower score line may extend partially through a thickness of the packaging from a bottom surface. Additionally, the upper score line is located on the top portion and the lower score line is located on the bottom portion. Moreover, the upper score line and the lower score line may form an overlap region therebetween. The overlap region may include an upper overlap region extending from the top portion overlapping a lower overlap region extending from the bottom portion.

The fold region may also include a laminate strip disposed on the packaging. The laminate strip may be disposed on the front surface, the back surface, or both of the packaging over the upper score line and the lower score line. The laminate strip may extend an entire width of both the top portion and the bottom portion, and the laminate strip may be disposed on the back side of the packaging over the lower score line. The laminate strip may have a width as measured substantially perpendicular to the upper score line and the lower score line of about 25 mm.

The present teachings may also provide a packaging, wherein the upper score line and the lower score line may extend along a width of the packaging and are substantially parallel to each other. The lower score line may include tapered regions on opposing ends of the lower score line that taper the lower score line to meet the upper score line. Additionally, the top portion may include an upper rounded portion and the bottom portion may include a lower rounded portion that opposes the upper rounded portion. Moreover, the upper rounded portion and the lower rounded portion may both be located in the fold region. Furthermore, the upper rounded portion and the lower rounded portion may meet along the upper score line. Also, the upper score line may be substantially linear and free of any tapered regions.

The present teachings meet one or more of the present needs by providing packaging that may be configured to snap apart within the fold region to separate the top portion and the bottom portion from each other, and the snap apart separation may be substantially similar to the snapping of a conventional plastic snap card.

Additionally, the present teachings meet one or more of the present needs by providing packaging, wherein: the packaging decreases overall waste; the packaging utilizes biodegradable and/or recyclable materials, yet still allows for the packaging to be snapped apart; the packaging is biodegradable and/or recyclable and provides enough structural rigidity for snapping apart a transaction card from a carrier of the packaging; and the packaging includes a localized stiffener to improve snapping abilities of the packaging.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG.1 is a front view of the packaging in accordance with the present teachings.

FIG. 2 is close-up view 2 of the packaging of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is close-up view 3 of the packaging of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 4 is a back view of the packaging in accordance with the present teachings.

FIG. 5 is a back separated view of the packaging of FIG. 4 .

FIG. 6 is a cross-section of the packaging in accordance with the present teachings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The explanations and illustrations presented herein are intended to acquaint others skilled in the art with the invention, its principles, and its practical application. Those skilled in the art may adapt and apply the teachings in its numerous forms, as may be best suited to the requirements of a particular use. Accordingly, the specific embodiments of the present teachings as set forth are not intended as being exhaustive or limiting of the teachings. The scope of the teachings should, therefore, be determined not with reference to the above description, but should instead be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. The disclosures of all articles and references, including patent applications and publications, are incorporated by reference for all purposes. Other combinations are also possible as will be gleaned from the following claims, which are also hereby incorporated by reference into this written description.

The present teachings generally relate to packaging for one or more items, such as a transaction card. The packaging may function to securely house one or more items. The packaging may function to prevent tampering with the one or more items prior to a rightful owner opening the packaging. Additionally, the packaging may function as a display for the one or more items in a retail establishment. The packaging may include one or more layers. For example, the packaging may include two or more layers, three or more layer, or four or more layers. The packaging may include six or less layers, five or less layers, or four or less layers. Alternatively, the packaging may be a single layer. The packaging may be defined by one or more regions, one or more portions, or both. For example, the packaging may include a top portion, a bottom portion, one or more intermediate portions, or a combination thereof.

The top portion may be an upper portion of the packaging. The top portion may function to display one or more items such as a transaction card. To display the one or more items, the top portion may include one or more hanging elements or other mechanical elements to facilitate display of the one or more items. For example, the top portion may include an aperture to hang the packaging on a hook of a display in a retail establishment or store. The top portion may act as a carrier for the one or more items. Therefore, the one or more items may be at least partially disposed on a surface of the top portion to support the one or more items. The one or more items may thus be adhered or otherwise secured to the top portion to prevent unwanted separation prior to a rightful owner separating the one or more items from the top portion.

The one or more items may be a transaction card such as a prepaid card, gift card, other loadable and/or scannable item, or a combination thereof. Alternatively, while transaction cards are discussed in further detail herein with respect to the packaging, the one or more items may also be an item other than a transaction card. For example, the one or more items may be a membership card, voucher card, advertisement, jewelry, electronic device, or a combination thereof. As such, it may be gleaned from the present teachings that the packaging may secure any type of item. Thus, the packaging may also be highly customizable to properly package various sizes and/or shapes of the one or more items. As a result, the packaging may also vary dimensionally.

The one or more items, such as a transaction card, may be defined as a bottom portion of the overall packaging. However, it is also envisioned that the transaction card may also be secured to a bottom portion of the packaging without integration into the bottom portion. That is, the transaction card may be secured or otherwise connected to the bottom portion. While dimensions may vary between the bottom portion and the top portion, it is contemplated that the bottom portion and the top portion have similar dimensions. For example, the top portion and the bottom portion may have substantially the same overall width and/or length.

The bottom portion may be connected to the top portion. The connection means may be a mechanical connection, an adhesive connection, or both. The bottom portion and the top portion may be connected near or along one or more peripheral edges. The bottom portion and the top portion may be integrally (i.e., monolithically) formed and one or more features may be manufactured into the packaging to allow separation between the bottom portion and the top portion.

The present teachings may beneficially provide a fold region between the top portion and the bottom portion. The fold region may function to allow separation between the top portion and the bottom portion. Advantageously, the fold region may allow “snapping” between the top portion and the bottom portion to cleanly separate the top portion and the bottom portion. A clean separation may be separation of the top portion from the bottom portion, or vice versa, free of damage and/or tearing of the top portion, the bottom portion, or both. Additionally, a clean snapping separation may allow for bending and/or flexing of the top portion and the bottom portion to cleanly break and separate the top portion and the bottom portion substantially free of burrs or other imperfections along the fold region.

Beneficially, the fold region may provide a snapping separation that mimics a plastic packaging snap card without requiring plastic packaging. That is, the packaging may be manufactured using environmentally friendly materials, such as recyclable and/or repulpable materials. For example, the packaging may be manufactured using paperboard structures, such as a corrugated medium, linerboard, solid bleached sulfate (SBS), unbleached kraft, folding boxboard (FBB), other paperboard materials, or a combination thereof. While it is envisioned that the packaging is made from paperboard materials, the packaging may also provide a means for manufacturing a snap card from other environmentally friendly materials other than paperboard materials. Using such paperboard materials often results in the packaging not being as structurally rigid—or “snappable”—when compared to a conventional plastic snap card. As a result, the paperboard material may bend or fold in undesired locations or may not provide a “snap” for clean separation between the top portion and the bottom portion. However, the present teachings and fold region described herein provide a means for using paperboard materials that may still provide a clean “snap” for separation between the top portion and the bottom portion.

The fold region may contain one or more score lines, one or more perforations, or both to facilitate separation between the top portion and the bottom portion. The score lines, perforations, or both may be located along the top portion, the bottom portion, or both. The score lines and/or the perforations may extend through an entire thickness of the top portion, the bottom portion, or both, or may only extend through a portion of the top portion, the bottom portion, or both. As described in further detail below, the fold region may include a plurality of score lines or perforations that create an overlap region between the top portion and the bottom portion.

The fold region may also include one or more rounded portions along the top portion and/or the bottom portion. The rounded portions may be a cut or rounded edge of the top portion and/or the bottom portion. The rounded portions may function to help provide clean separation between the top portion and the bottom portion. The rounded portions may help ensure separation is done along a desired region of the packaging between the top portion and the bottom portion. The desired region may be along one or more desired score lines, or a region therebetween. Rounded portions of the top portion may align or be coordinated with rounded portions of the bottom portion to create a localized are of the packaging having a width less than a width of the top portion, the bottom portion, or both. As a result, separation between the top portion and the bottom portion may be easier when compared to packaging free of such a localized tapering.

The fold region may also include a laminate strip. The laminate strip may function to increase structural rigidity of the packaging. The laminate strip may provide localized rigidity of the fold region or may extend to improve rigidity outside of the defined fold region. The laminate strip may also function to create the “snap” when separating the top portion and the bottom portion. That is, the laminate strip may cleanly snap with bending or folding to mimic the feel of snapping a plastic snap card.

The laminate strip may be disposed on one or more surfaces of the packaging. The laminate strip may extend to one or more peripheral edges of the packaging. For example, the laminate strip may extend substantially an entire width of the top portion, the bottom portion, or both. However, the laminate strip may also be narrower or wider than the top portion, the bottom portion, or both, based upon a desired application.

The laminate strip may have any desired thickness. However, it is envisioned that the laminate strip may be a minimum thickness that still provides a “snap” when separating the top portion from the bottom portion. As such, the laminate strip may have a thickness of about 1 mm or more, about 2 mm or more, or about 5 mm or more. The laminate strip may have a thickness of about 10 mm or less, about 9 mm or less, or about 6 mm or less. The laminate strip may also have localized areas that are thickness and/or thinner than the overall thickness of the laminate strip.

The laminate strip may extend to cover substantially all or a portion of the fold region. To do so, the laminate strip may have a width and/or height measured perpendicular to a width of the top and bottom portions similar to a width and/or height of the fold region measured in a similar fashion. The width of the laminate strip may be about 10 mm or more, about 15 mm or more, or about 20 mm or more. The width of the laminate strip may be about 40 mm or less, about 35 mm or less, or about 30 mm or less. For example, the laminate strip may have a width of about 25 mm. However, it should be noted that the laminate strip may have any desired width and/or height based on a given application.

The laminate strip may increase the structural rigidity of the fold region by reinforcing one or more score lines or perforations within the fold region. The laminate strip may be disposed over the score lines or perforations to prevent unwanted bending between the top portion and the bottom portion other than along the score lines or perforations. As such, the laminate strip may also include similar score lines or perforations to allow for separation of the laminate strip (i.e., between a top portion and a bottom portion of the laminate strip). However, the laminate strip may also be free of any scoring or perforation yet may still be cleanly separated or broken during separation of the top portion and the bottom portion. Additionally, while full separation may often be desired, it is also contemplated that the laminate strip may be configured to maintain connection between the top portion and the bottom portion after “snapping”. That is, the top portion and the bottom portion may be cleanly separated from one another and only be connected by the laminate strip.

The top portion, the bottom portion, or both may also include one or more images, graphics, barcodes, or a combination thereof. The images and/or graphics may provide a visual indicated to a customer as to what the packaging is providing, such as a specific prepaid transaction card (e.g., a gift card). The barcodes may help activate the prepaid transaction cards. For example, the top portion and a bottom portion that is a transaction card may both include an associated barcode to allow for activation of the transaction card by scanning both the barcode of the top portion and the barcode of the transaction card. As such, the barcodes may act as a security measure to prevent separation of the top portion and the bottom portion by anyone other than a rightful owner.

Turning now to the figures, FIG. 1 is a front view of packaging 10 in accordance with the present teachings. The packaging 10 includes a bottom portion 14 connected to a top portion 12. The top portion 12 may be configured to hang in a retail store or other location via an aperture 16 extending through a thickness of the top portion 12. The aperture 16 may be any size and/or shape to facilitate display of the packaging 10. It should also be noted that additional hanging or display mechanisms may also be integrated into the packaging 10 if desired.

The bottom portion 14 may be a transaction card or prepaid card, such as a gift card. Therefore, the top portion 12 may act as a carrier for the bottom portion 14 until a customer purchases and activates the transaction card or prepaid card. Upon activation, the customer may separate the transaction card or prepaid card (i.e., the bottom portion 14) from the top portion 12 for use or for gifting. The top portion 12 and the bottom portion 14 may be separated along a fold region 20. As discussed in further detail below, the fold region 20 may allow for “snapping” of the top portion 12 and the bottom portion 14 to separate the top portion 12 and the bottom portion 14. To create a snapping separation, the fold region 20 may include a plurality of score lines. As illustrated, the fold region 20 may include an upper score line 22 near a peripheral edge of the top portion 12 and a lower score line 24 near a peripheral edge of the bottom portion 14.

While the score lines 22, 24 may extend through an entire thickness of the packaging 10, as shown, the upper score line 22 and the lower score line 24 may extend through only a portion of the thickness of the packaging 10. The upper score line 22 and the lower score line 24 may also be positioned on opposing sides of packaging 10. As illustrated in FIG. 1 , the upper score line 22 may extend through a front surface of the packaging 10 while the lower score line 24 may extend through a back surface of the packaging 10. By having substantially mirrored score lines 22, 24, the fold region 20 may create partial overlap between the top portion 12 and the bottom portion 114, thereby allowing for a more structurally rigid “snapping” separation (see FIG. 6 ).

The score lines 22, 24 may be substantially linear or may include one or more curves, bends, angles, arcuate portions, tapers, or a combination thereof. Similarly, the upper score lines 22 and the lower score line 24 may be substantially uniform or may differ in shape or design. However, it is envisioned the upper score line 22 and the lower score line 24 may be substantially mirrored to ensure consistent and predictable separation of the top portion 12 and the bottom potion 14.

The score lines 22, 24 may also extend along a width of the top portion 12 and/or the bottom portion 14, or the score lines 22, 24 may extend along a portion of the width of the top portion 12 and/or the bottom portion 14. As shown, the top portion 12 may include a plurality of upper rounded portions 26 the at least partially abut lower rounded portions 28 of the bottom portion 14, thereby creating a width of the packaging 10 within the fold region 20 that is less than an overall width of the top portion (WT) and an overall width of the bottom portion (WB). It should also be noted that the width of the top portion (WT) and the width of the bottom portion (WB) may be substantially equal.

Due to the upper rounded portions 26 and the lower rounded portions 28, the lower score line 24 may have a width (WLSL) less than the width of the top portion (WT) and a width of the bottom portion (WB). As such, the packaging 10 may beneficially provide a fold region 20 that allows for separation between the top portion 12 and the bottom portion 14 that may require less force when compared to packaging 10 free of a localized narrowed region.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate close-up views 2 and 3, respectively, of the packaging of FIG. 1 , and may correspond to opposing peripheral sides of the fold region 20 of the packaging 10. As shown, the top portion 12 and the bottom portion 14 may be connected in the fold region 20 by an upper score line 22 and a lower score line 24. As discussed above, the upper score line 22 may extend through a front of the packaging 10 while the lower score line 24 may extend through a back of the packaging 10. It should also be noted that, while score lines 22, 24 are discussed herein with respect to the packaging 10, the score lines 22, 24 may also be perforations or other types of cutting through the packaging 10.

The upper score line 22 and the lower score line 24 may be substantially parallel to each other and may extend along a width of the top portion 12 and the bottom portion 14 (see FIG. 1 ). The lower score line 24 may also include tapered regions 30 near opposing ends of the lower score line 24 that taper towards the upper score line 22. Additionally, while not shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , the upper score line 22 may also include similar tapered regions that extend towards the lower score line 24. As shown, the tapered regions 30 of the lower score line 24 may taper until the lower score line 24 meets or intersects with the upper score line 22.

Due to the substantially parallel positioning between the upper score line 22 and the lower score line 24, the score lines 22, 24 may be offset a desired distance (D_(O)). The offset distance (D_(O)) may define an overlap region of the top portion 12, the bottom portion 14, or both (see FIG. 6 ). The offset distance (D_(O)) may be about 5 mm or more, about 10 mm or more, or about 15 mm or more. The offset distance (D_(O)) may be about 30 mm or less, about 25 mm or less, or about 20 mm or less. However, it is envisioned that the offset distance (D_(O)) may be any desired distance to create a desired overlap region of the top portion 12, the bottom portion 14, or both.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , the top portion 12 may include upper rounded potions 26 that substantially align with lower rounded portions 28 of the bottom portion 14. The upper rounded portions 26 and the lower rounded portions 28 may be positioned on opposing sides of the top portion 12 and the lower portion 14, respectively, and may round to meet one another and create a localized region having a width less than the width of the top portion 12 and/or the bottom portion 14. As illustrated, the upper rounded portions 26 and the lower rounded portions 28 may curve to meet one another along the upper score lines 22. While not shown, it is also envisioned that the upper rounded portions 26 and the lower rounded portions 28 may terminate or meet in any desired location, such as near the lower score line 24 or an intermediate region. Due to the upper rounded portions 26 and the lower rounded portions 28 meeting along the upper score line 22, separation of the top portion 12 and the bottom portion 14 may be more predictable and may help ensure a clean “snapping” between the top portion 12 and the bottom portion in the fold region 20. It should also be noted that the upper and lower rounded portions 26, 28 may have any desired size and or shape. For example, the upper and lower rounded portions 26, 28 may be a planar fillet, a jagged region, an angled region, or a combination thereof.

FIG. 4 illustrates a back view of packaging 10 in accordance with the present teachings. The back view of the packaging 10 may be an opposing side of the front view of the packaging 10 shown in FIG. 1 . However, FIG. 4 may also correspond to packaging 10 other than the packaging 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 . The packaging 10 may include a top portion 12 connected to a bottom portion 14 along a fold region 20. As discussed above, the fold region 20 may include an upper score 22 extending through a front surface of the packaging 10 and a lower score line 24 extending through a back surface of the packaging 10 to allow for separation (see FIG. 1 ). The top portion 12 may also include upper rounded portions 26 that oppose lower rounded portions 28 of the bottom portion 14. The upper rounded portions 26 and the lower rounded portions 28 may join or intersect along the upper score line 22 to allow for easier “snapping” of the upper portion 12 and the bottom portion 14.

As discussed above, it is envisioned that the packaging 10 may be manufactured from more environmentally friendly materials when compared to a conventional snap card typically manufactured from plastics. However, due to more eco-friendly materials being made from less rigid materials when compared to plastics, such as a biodegradable paperboard material, the fold region 20 may beneficially be configured to provide a customer a “snapping” separation between the top portion 12 and the bottom portion 14 similar to the feel of snapping a conventional plastic snap card.

To create such a “snapping” feel, the fold region 20 may also include a laminate strip 32 extending along the width of the top portion 12 and the bottom portion 14. The laminate strip 32 may extend along a portion of the top portion 12 and/or the bottom portion 14 or may extend to opposing terminal edges of the top portion 12 and/or the bottom 14. Similarly, the laminate strip 32 may be disposed along an entire portion of the fold region 20 or may only be disposed along a specified or localized portion of the fold region 20. For example, a width of laminate strip (WLs) may be the same or greater than a width of the fold region 20 measured in a similar fashion.

As illustrated, the laminate strip 32 may be disposed on the back surface of the packaging 10. The laminate strip 32 may be disposed over both the upper score line 22 and the lower score line 24 to provide additional rigidity to the fold region 20 and provide a customer the feel of a conventional snap card when bending the top portion 12 and the bottom portion 14 relative to each other.

While the packaging 10 may be used with a variety of consumer items, it is envisioned that the packaging 10 may be particularly beneficial for prepaid cards. In such a case, the top portion 12 may act as a carrier of the prepaid card, whereby the prepaid card is the bottom portion 14 of the packaging 10. For example, the top portion 12 may include an aperture 16 to hang the packaging 10 in a display area, such as by a hanger, for a customer to visually see in a store. Once a customer selects the desired prepaid card (e.g., a gift card), the customer may then bring the packaging 10 in its entirety to a retail merchant for activation. Here, the retail merchant may scan both a barcode 40 on the top portion 12 and a corresponding barcode 40 of the prepaid card (i.e., the bottom portion 14) to activate the prepaid card. Once activation is complete, the customer may then freely separate the prepaid card from the top portion 12 via the fold region 20 in a “snapping” manner (see FIG. 6 ).

FIG. 5 illustrates the packaging 10 of FIG. 4 after separation. As shown, the upper portion 12 is separated from the bottom portion 14 along the fold region 20. The fold region 20 illustrates that the upper score line 22 extends through a top surface of the top portion 12 while the bottom score line 24 extends through a bottom surface of the bottom portion 14. As a result, an upper overlap region 34 of the top portion 12 is designed to overlap with a lower overlap region 36 of the bottom portion 14. Such overlap may create additional structural rigidity—in addition to the laminate strip 32—to create a “snapping” separation between the top portion 12 and the bottom portion 14.

Additionally, as shown in FIG. 5 , the overlap regions 34, 36 are formed as mating notches between the top portion 12 and the bottom portion 14. As a result, when the top portion 12 and the bottom portion 14 are mated (i.e., before separation) the front and back surfaces of the packaging may be substantially flush. For example, the upper overlap region 34 and the lower overlap region 36 may act as male and female segments to create a flush joint between the top portion 12 and the bottom portion 14.

FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-section of packaging in accordance with the present teachings. Specifically, FIG. 6 shows a fold region 20 of the packaging as discussed above. As shown, the fold region 20 acts as a connecting region or joint between the top portion 12 and the bottom portion 14. An upper score line 22 extending from a front surface of the packaging partially through the top portion 12 and a lower score line 24 extending from a back surface of the packaging partially through the bottom portion 14 form an intersection of mating portion potions between the top portion 12 and the bottom portion 14. The mating portion may be a joining between an upper overlap region 34 and a lower overlap region 36. While the overlap regions 36 are shown line-to-line, it should be noted that the overlap region may have a desired gap formed by the perforations or score lines. Additionally, the overlap regions 34, 36 may also include one or more score lines or perforations not shown in FIG. 6 , such as scoring extending between the upper score line 22 and the lower score line 24 to create the defined overlap regions 34, 36. Moreover, the packaging may also include a laminate strip 36 disposed on the back surface of the packaging over the lower score line 24. The laminate strip 36 may extend through an desired portion of the fold region 20 to create a “snapping” feel similar to a conventional plastic snap card when the top portion 12 and the bottom portion 14 are bend in snapping direction (D_(B) ) to separate the top portion 12 and the bottom potion 14.

ELEMENT LIST

10 Packaging

12 Top Portion

14 Bottom Portion

16 Aperture

20 Fold Region

22 Upper Score Line

24 Lower Score Line

26 Upper Rounded Portion

28 Lower Rounded Portion

30 Tapered Region

32 Laminate Strip

34 Upper Overlap Region

36 Lower Overlap Region

40 Barcode

Wu Width of the Top Portion

WB Width of the Bottom Portion

WLSL Width of the Lower Score Line

WLs Width of the Laminate Strip

D_(O) Offset Distance between the Upper and Lower Score Lines

D_(B) Bend Direction

Any numerical values recited herein include all values from the lower value to the upper value in increments of one unit provided that there is a separation of at least 2 units between any lower value and any higher value. As an example, if it is stated that the amount of a component or a value of a process variable such as, for example, temperature, pressure, time and the like is, for example, from 1 to 90, preferably from 20 to 80, more preferably from 30 to 70, it is intended that values such as 15 to 85, 22 to 68, 43 to 51, 30 to 32 etc. are expressly enumerated in this specification. For values which are less than one, one unit is considered to be 0.0001, 0.001, 0.01 or 0.1 as appropriate. These are only examples of what is specifically intended and all possible combinations of numerical values between the lowest value and the highest value enumerated are to be considered to be expressly stated in this application in a similar manner.

Unless otherwise stated, all ranges include both endpoints and all numbers between the endpoints. The use of “about” or “approximately” in connection with a range applies to both ends of the range. Thus, “about 20 to 30” is intended to cover “about 20 to about 30”, inclusive of at least the specified endpoints.

The disclosures of all articles and references, including patent applications and publications, are incorporated by reference for all purposes. The term “consisting essentially of” to describe a combination shall include the elements, ingredients, components or steps identified, and such other elements ingredients, components or steps that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the combination. The use of the terms “comprising” or “including” to describe combinations of elements, ingredients, components or steps herein also contemplates embodiments that consist essentially of the elements, ingredients, components or steps. By use of the term “may” herein, it is intended that any described attributes that “may” be included are optional.

Unless otherwise stated, a teaching with the term “about” or “approximately” in combination with a numerical amount encompasses a teaching of the recited amount, as well as approximations of that recited amount. By way of example, a teaching of “about 100” encompasses a teaching of 100+/−15.

Plural elements, ingredients, components or steps can be provided by a single integrated element, ingredient, component or step. Alternatively, a single integrated element, ingredient, component or step might be divided into separate plural elements, ingredients, components or steps. The disclosure of “a” or “one” to describe an element, ingredient, component or step is not intended to foreclose additional elements, ingredients, components or steps.

It is understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many embodiments as well as many applications besides the examples provided will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading the above description. The scope of the teachings should, therefore, be determined not with reference to the above description, but should instead be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. The disclosures of all articles and references, including patent applications and publications, are incorporated by reference for all purposes. The omission in the following claims of any aspect of subject matter that is disclosed herein is not a disclaimer of such subject matter, nor should it be regarded that the inventors did not consider such subject matter to be part of the disclosed inventive subject matter. 

What is claimed is: 1: Packaging comprising: (a) a top portion; and (b) a bottom portion connected to and separable from the top portion by a fold region; wherein the fold region include scoring, perforation, or both to facilitate separation of the top portion and the bottom portion. 2: The packaging of claim 1, wherein the bottom portion is a prepaid or loadable transaction card. 3: The packaging of claim 1 or 2, wherein the packaging is biodegradable, recyclable, or both. 4: The packaging of any of the preceding claims, wherein the packaging is made from a paperboard material and the packaging is a snap-type packaging. 5: The packaging of any of the preceding claims, wherein the fold region includes an upper score line and a lower score line offset from the upper score line. 6: The packaging of claim 5, wherein the upper score line extends partially through a thickness of the packaging from a top surface and the lower score line extends partially through a thickness of the packaging from a bottom surface. 7: The packaging of claim 5 or 6, wherein the upper score line is located on the top portion and the lower score line is located on the bottom portion. 8: The packaging of any of claims 5 through 7, wherein the upper score line and the lower score line form an overlap region therebetween. 9: The packaging of claim 8, wherein the overlap region includes an upper overlap region extending from the top portion overlapping a lower overlap region extending from the bottom portion. 10: The packaging of any of claims 5 through 9, wherein the fold region further includes a laminate strip disposed on the packaging. 11: The packaging of claim 10, wherein the laminate strip is disposed on the front surface, the back surface, or both of the packaging over the upper score line and the lower score line. 12: The packaging of claim 10 or 11, wherein the laminate strip extends an entire width of both the top portion and the bottom portion, and the laminate strip is disposed on the back side of the packaging over the lower score line. 13: The packaging of any of claims 10 through 12, wherein the laminate strip has a width as measured substantially perpendicular to the upper score line and the lower score line of about 25 mm. 14: The packaging of any of claims 5 through 13, wherein the upper score line and the lower score line extend along a width of the packaging and are substantially parallel to each other. 15: The packaging of any of claims 5 through 13, wherein the lower score line includes tapered regions on opposing ends of the lower score line that taper the lower score line to meet the upper score line. 16: The packaging of any of the preceding claims, wherein the top portion includes an upper rounded portion and the bottom portion includes a lower rounded portion that opposes the upper rounded portion. 17: The packaging of claim 16, wherein the upper rounded portion and the lower rounded portion are both located in the fold region. 18: The packaging of claim 16 or 17, wherein the upper rounded portion and the lower rounded portion meet along the upper score line. 19: The packaging of any of claims 16 through 18, wherein the upper score line is substantially linear and free of any tapered regions. 20: The packaging of any of the preceding claims, wherein the packaging is configured to snap apart within the fold region to separate the top portion and the bottom portion from each other, and the snap apart separation is substantially similar to the snapping of a conventional plastic snap card. 